Lonnie Smith "Turning Point"

A stone killer from organist Lonnie Smith -- one of his completely cooking early albums for Blue Note, and a hard-burner all the way through! Smith's working here with a really great group that includes Idris Muhammad on drums and Melvin Sparks on guitar -- both of whom give the album a really heavy bottom, and almost make the set feel like one of those classic Prestige jammers from the same time. But added to them is a great horn section of Lee Morgan on trumpet, Julian Preister on trombone, and Bennie Maupin on tenor -- all of whom give the record a slightly hipper, more modern feel -- in keeping with the Blue Note groove of the time. Tracks are all nice and long -- and titles include the originals "Turning Point" and "Slow High" -- plus versions of "See Saw", "People Sure Act Funny", and "Eleanor Rigby".